Occupational health doctor in Latviathe mandatory health check, who pays and how often

An occupational health doctor assesses whether a person's health is compatible with the work they do, and detects health problems caused by the working environment early.

• Performs mandatory health checks
• Assesses the impact of harmful workplace factors
• Diagnoses and treats occupational disease
• Issues the opinion on fitness for the role
• Orders further tests and specialist consultations where needed

Rīgas veselības centrs states that the purpose of the mandatory check is to protect the employee's health, so that the doctor detects health problems caused by the working environment as early as possible and can start treating them in good time.

These two are frequently confused, but their purposes differ.

• PurposeCheck under Cabinet Regulation No. 219: Protecting the employee's own healthCheck requiring form No. 027/u: Protecting public health
• WhoCheck under Cabinet Regulation No. 219: Employees whose health may be affected by harmful workplace factors and special conditionsCheck requiring form No. 027/u: Employees whose work carries possible risk to other people's health
• Who performs itCheck under Cabinet Regulation No. 219: Occupational health doctorCheck requiring form No. 027/u: Specialists designated under the relevant procedure
• Everyday nameCheck under Cabinet Regulation No. 219: Mandatory health checkCheck requiring form No. 027/u: Medical or sanitary book

Public sources note that the list of harmful workplace factors in annex 1 of Cabinet Regulation No. 219 covers chemical, biological, physical and psycho-emotional factors, and is so extensive that in practice it is hard to imagine a working environment where no checks are needed. Regular checks apply not only to manual workers but also to office staff.

Who pays. Public sources state that the mandatory health check is paid for by the employer, except where the candidate has knowingly provided false information.

How often. The frequency is set by the employer or the occupational safety specialist competent to assess the risks of each field. Public sources give office workers as typically every 3 years, and workers in other sectors as annually.

Who does what. The employer or the company's occupational safety specialist decides how often and when the tests are done and issues the referral, while the employee is obliged to complete them within the set deadline. Compliance is monitored by the State Labour Inspectorate.

• Six years of medical study and a doctor's degree, at RSU or the University of Latvia.
• Residency in occupational health and occupational disease.
• The certificate is valid for 5 years. Recertification requires 250 continuing education points plus a 48.38 EUR fee.
• Entry in the practitioners register must be renewed every 5 years.

Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital states that you should bring:

• Two completed copies of the mandatory health check card issued by the employer under annex 3 of Cabinet Regulation No. 219.
• Results of any medical investigations carried out in the past six months, where available.

Veselības centru apvienība explains how the cards circulate: the employer completes two copies listing the harmful factors and special working conditions identified in the workplace risk assessment. One card stays with the doctor; the employee returns the other to the employer.

Public sources emphasise that the doctor has no right to amend the section of the card prepared by the employer. If the risk factors listed do not match the actual job, that must be resolved with the employer.

• The doctor questions the person and establishes whether their health is compatible with the work, completing an assessment questionnaire.
• The opinion can only be issued after the doctor has examined the employee and, where necessary, requested and reviewed laboratory tests and specialist examinations.
• Which tests and which specialist examinations are needed depends both on the employee's own health and on the harmful workplace factors they are exposed to.
• The required tests are set primarily by annex 1 of Cabinet Regulation No. 219.
• The result is the doctor's opinion on fitness for the work concerned.

The mandatory health check is a package of procedures, priced according to the harmful workplace factors involved. The employer pays.

• Mandatory health check, fromPrice EUR: 32.50Source: VCA
• Office worker, screen workPrice EUR: from 32.50Source: VCA
• Warehouse workerPrice EUR: from 57.50Source: VCA
• Production workerPrice EUR: from 69.50Source: VCA

Veselības centru apvienība notes that prices depend on the harmful workplace factors, so the exact figure must be confirmed with the provider.

The specialty body is the association "Latvijas Arodslimību ārstu biedrība", registration number 40008018072, registered address Dzirciema iela 16, Rīga, LV-1007, contact Ilze Feldberga, arodslimibas.lv.

Certificates are issued by the Certification Council of the Latvian Medical Association. Healthcare is overseen by the Health Inspectorate, while compliance with the mandatory health check rules is monitored by the State Labour Inspectorate.

If you have doubts about the quality of a service received at a healthcare provider, raise them first with the provider's management. If that does not resolve it, a written submission goes to the Health Inspectorate no later than two years after the alleged infringement, and is reviewed within 30 days, extendable to four months in complex cases. The procedure is set out on the Health Inspectorate site.

If the issue concerns the employer's duty to provide checks, the State Labour Inspectorate is the body to approach.